Blast at Zimbabwe's
opposition offices, none injured

HARARE, Sept 12 (AFP) -

A hand grenade exploded late
Monday at the headquarters of Zimbabwe's main opposition Movement for Democratic
Change (MDC) in Harare, shattering windows but injuring no one, security guards
and party officials said Tuesday.

"I heard a big sound like a
gun, all at once, and the windows fell out," said James Rupiya, one of two night
guards who was there when the grenade exploded.

The grenade was thrown over
the fence surrounding the building and landed on the brick courtyard at about
11:15 p.m., Rupiya and his colleague Marksom Ndebele said.

The blast blew out the glass
in windows and doors in front of the building, and shattered one window of a car
belonging to the party's director of security. The grenade left a small hole in
the brick courtyard.

The grenade's pin was still
resting on the car's hood early Tuesday, and police found bits of the grenade's
shell scattered around the courtyard among the shards of glass.

Neither guard was hurt, and
they said they were the only two people at the offices.

"It's getting out of hand now,
it's really getting out hand," said MDC administrator David Chimhini, who was at
the scene assessing the damage.

Chimhini said police told him
they believed the grenade may have been old or somehow malfunctioning, because
the blast was not as strong as it could have been.

Chimhini and the two guards
said this was the first attack directly on the party's building, although
individual party members have faced intimidation around the country and had
their homes stoned.

The MDC took nearly half of
all contested seats in parliamentary elections in June, following months of
violence and intimidation directly mainly at opposition
supporters.

Steaming oil prices leave Africa sweating

Reuters - Sep 11 2000
11:27AM ET

NAIROBI (Reuters) - While the world's big oil consumers gripe about high
crude prices, it is African nations, least able to cough up the extra dollars,
that are suffering most.

Sub-Saharan Africa actually produces more oil than it consumes, but most of
the oil comes from just two countries -- Nigeria and Angola.

The majority of countries in the region are importers of oil and are highly
exposed to hikes in oil prices -- many spending more than one third of their
foreign exchange earnings on fuel imports.

``High oil prices are basically bad for Africa,'' said Brian Paxton, managing
director of Mbendi, Pretoria-based publishers specializing in African business
and trade.

``Some economies are falling apart because the import costs are just too much
to bear.''

The decision at weekend by the oil producers' cartel OPEC to raise output by
three percent failed to make a dent in oil prices which are still hovering
around highs not seen since the 1990 Gulf crisis.

At some $33 a barrel, prices are more than three times what they were
two-and-a-half years ago.

HIGH PRICES UNDERMINE GROWTH, ANNOY CONSUMERS

Zimbabwe's state oil procurer last week hiked fuel prices for the fourth time
this year, raising the price of paraffin -- used by the bulk of the urban poor
-- by more than 100 percent and gasoline by 45 percent.

Zimbabwe's fuel crisis -- blamed as much on government mismanagement as
rising oil prices -- has threatened the viability of several industries and has
deepened the country's worst economic crisis since independence.

Tiny Uganda's oil import bill has jumped by some 30 percent in the last year
to $140 million, an expense it could ill-afford as the price of coffee, the
country's main export commodity, fell.

The combination meant that Uganda missed its economic growth target by two
percentage points this year, while neighboring Rwanda, whose economy has barely
recovered from civil war, is also suffering.

``The oil price rise is affecting growth, because most of our industries here
use oil, especially diesel. The trucks that bring us all our goods use diesel,''
said Jean-Bosco Iyadema, a senior official at Rwanda's Ministry of Commerce and
Industry.

As in Europe, where truckers and motorists have protested against rising fuel
prices, Rwandan consumers are becoming increasingly disgruntled.

``Of course we're upset. It's hard to raise prices in a country where there
is no money,'' said Jean-Pierre Sagahutu, a taxi driver in the capital Kigali.

``Our customers think we're greedy. They call us thieves, but it's not our
fault. It's a problem of petrol.''

LITTLE BENEFIT FOR ORDINARY AFRICANS

In war-torn Angola, sub-Saharan Africa's second-leading oil producer, soaring
world prices mean little to people on the crumbling streets of the capital
Luanda.

The country produces a hefty 780,000 barrels per day (bpd) -- a figure which
is set to double over the next two years as new Atlantic prospects become
available.

But Angolans still face high prices and long lines at the pumps. Earlier this
year, the government removed subsidies on fuel -- stoking prices by a whopping
1,600 percent overnight.

``Even in the producer nations the efficiencies are so poor that you won't
see these higher revenues benefiting the people,'' said Paxton.

``There are too many sticky fingers, too many ways for the money to get
diverted before it can be plowed back into the economy.''

Nigeria, by far the region's biggest producer, was long seen as the place
where powerful multinationals and corrupt politicians skimmed off oil riches and
left the poor with nothing.

But now with a new democratic government, the 2 million bpd producer could be
the only country in the region where high oil prices spell good news.

Revenues have exceeded expectations, the local currency has strengthened, the
cost of living for ordinary Nigerians has fallen and ambitious infrastructure
programs are expected to create thousands of new jobs.

MDC News on Contested Seats - Gokwe North

12 September 2000

Hello there,

From now on we will give you summaries on all the sits
being contested.

Below is the one for Gokwe North:

GOKWE NORTH
ELECTION PETITION

SIBANGANI MLANDU PETITIONERANDELECK MKANDHLA
RESPONDENT

GROUNDS

1 CORRUPT PRACTICESCited:-a) Many cases
of beating and severe intimidationb) MDC campaign team member Wonder
Manhango abducted by ZanuPF led by Mr.Karonga. His legs were broken, his head
bashed in with a hoe handle and he was castrated with a cattle castrater.c)
Houses searched and destroyed by known ZanuPF members..d) The petitioners
house was invaded and a rally held by ZanuPF in his house, raising a ZanuPF flag
above it

2 ELECTORAL IRREGULARITIESCited:-a) Many voters denied
access to polling stations.b) ZanuPF members actively campaigning within 100
metres of the polling station.c) Only 12 out of 38 polling stations did not
refuse MDC polling agents to enter.

Petition filed on the 26th of July
2000Sureties forms signed and forms filedService on the ZANU(PF)
candidate

Regards,

MDC Support Centre8th Floor, Gold
BridgeEastgateHarare

091367151/2/3

Guqula Izenzo/Maitiro
Chinja

"The rule of law should not be applied selectively" (Morgan
Tsvangirayi)

MDC News on Contested Seats - Gokwe East

12 September 2000

Here is the second installment of our legal challege update--a summary of the
Gokwe East Election Petition.

GOKWE EAST ELECTION PETITION

TINOS
MUDZORI PETITIONERANDFLORA BHUKA RESPONDENT

GROUNDS

1
PRE-ELECTION VIOLENCECited cases include:-a) Death of Wonder Manhango
after an attack by a group of youths wearing ZanuPF T-shirts.b) Mr. Josiah
Matupire, MDC activist attacked by assailants wearing ZanuPF and the respondents
T-shirts.c) Numerous other attacks on MDC members, causing bodily harm,
destroying property, destroying grinding mills, putting sugar in the fuel tank
of a grinding mill motor. Acts performed by known and identified members of
ZanuPF.

2 ELECTORAL IRREGULARITIESCited:-a) Numerous MDC polling
agents refused entry into the polling stations.b) Campaigning within the 100
metre radius by ZanuPF.c) Known and feared war veterans permitted to sit at
the entrance to polling stations.d) Postal votes from a disused Fifth
brigade army barracks in Gokwe.e) Confiscation of Identity documents from
suspected MDC members by ZanuPF members.

Petition filed on the 26th of
July 2000Sureties forms signed and forms filed Service on Registrar
General and the ZANU(PF) candidate

Keep up the
support!

Regards,

MDC Support Centre8th Floor, Gold
BridgeEastgateHarare

091367151/2/3

Guqula Izenzo/Maitiro
Chinja

"The rule of law should not be applied selectively" (Morgan
Tsvangirayi)

The compilation of the CFU national sitrep has been
handed over to the newlyappointed Deputy Director (Admin and Projects),
Malcolm Vowles. The staffthat have managed the Information Room over the
past seven months, notablySteve Crawford and Louli Capatos, have done a
sterling job. Since boththese members of staff are from the CFU Technical
Team, they have returnedto their normal duties to deal with the lead-up to
the new agriculturalseason.

The frequency of the national sitreps has
been reduced to three times aweek - Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

We
apologise for the inauspicious start to the hand-over, with the firstsitrep
"under new management" being dispatched one day late! We are alsoaware of
the unacceptable delay between dispatch and receipt for many of
ourrecipients. We are in the process of investigating the technical
reasonsfor this delay.

NATIONAL SITUATION REPORT IN
BRIEF:

Widespread incidents of work stoppages, fence-cutting,
tree-cutting,deliberate fires and poaching are reported from most
provinces. a.. In an interesting development, local war vet leadership in
VictoryBlock (Mashonaland Central) are openly voicing their disenchantment
withtheir leadership. b.. In Chakari/Chegutu, police have charged a war
veteran for the assaultof a worker and a new tactic was "revealed" when six
unidentified menindecently exposed themselves to a farmer's wife. c..
There are several work stoppages and two cases of destruction oftobacco
ridges in Mashonaland East. The owner of Blackfordby Farm wasordered by a
delegation of 400 to vacate within seven days. In Macheke /Virginia,
occupiers have disregarded the withdrawal of the CompulsoryAcquisition Order
on Castledene Pines and have threatened to destroy thefarm if it is not
vacated by the 17th September.No reports were received from Mashonaland West
(North), Manicaland, Midlandsand Matabeleland.

REGIONAL
REPORTS

Mashonaland CentralCentenary: Occupiers started a fire on
Mavhuradonha Farm - a lodge was burntdown as a consequence.Victory
Block: War vet Kangachepi has indicated his disenchantment with thewar vet
and Zanu PF leadership and that continued harassment of farmers wasfutile.
Villagers who were assembled at Under Cragg Farm to register forresettlement
allegedly expressed an opinion that a resettlement programmewithout adequate
resources would be futile. The mood of disenchantment wasre-inforced by
resident youths on Mutendamambo Farm. Deliberate firescontinue to be a
problem, with no decisive response from the Police.Tsatsi: War vet Majuru
has attempted to prevent owner of Barwick "K " fromridging. War vets have
brought their own tractor and have began ploughing onGood Hope
Farm.Mutepatepa: A giraffe was poached on Piedmont
Farm.Mazowe/Concession: War vets have held meetings on various farms. There
hasbeen a large build up of numbers on Glenara Estates.

Mashonaland
West (South)

Chakari/Chegutu: The owner of Milanwood Farm was threatened
by war vets forreporting continuous fence cutting to the police. Following a
warning bypolice at Farnham Farm that occupiers should desist from fence
cutting, aworker, who was suspected of reporting the fence cutting, was
assaulted.Police have charged the war veteran concerned with common
assault. On thesame farm, a group of six men indecently exposed themselves
to the owner'swife when she slowed down to record the registration number of
a suspiciousvehicle. Fences on Ranwick Farm have also been cut.Kadoma:
The house on Rockbar has been stripped of roofing, windows anddoors, but
there are no clear suspects.

Mashonaland EastBeatrice: Occupiers have
ploughed a prepared maize land on New Retreat Farm.War vets visited Herue
Farm to notify the owner that they would commencepegging next week. A
group of 30 - 40 vets were seen pegging on Sweden Farmand Zanka Farm had two
new houses built on it.Harare South: Work is still at a standstill at
Stoneridge Farm and allridges have been destroyed. On Saturday 9th September
a delegation of about400 invaders ordered the owner of Blackfordby Farm and
his family to vacatewithin seven days. The owner was informed that if he
dropped extortioncharges against Douglas Mahiya, disruption would stop.
Building of huts,wells and toilets continues at Amalinda Farm. Over 300 ha
of land has beendecimated by invaders. A resident occupier on Amalinda has
applied to theCity of Harare for provision of services on a portion of the
farm he claimsthe owner has given to him.Wedza: Poaching continues to
escalate. Police have been informed aboutpositively identified
suspects.Enterprise/Bromley/Ruwa: The war vets are meeting with the DA and
otherstoday. Work has been stopped on Middleton Farm and occupiers continue
toconstruct huts on a prepared land.Macheka/Virginia: On Castledene
Pines, where the Acquisition Order has beenrevoked, the occupiers have
threatened to destroy the farm if it is notvacated by the 17th September
2000. The War Vets have ordered the owner topay off the entire labour force.
War vets are also incensed that a securityguard arrested their colleague for
fish poaching. 25 bags of fertiliserwere found concealed on Lowlands
Farm.

MasvingoMasvingo East and Central Area: Veld fires, started at
invader base camps,continue unabated on farms east of Masvingo.Mwenezi
Area: Police are making an effort to contain tree-cutting, which isongoing
on at least four
properties.